1955 Map of El Paso

About this map

The Franklin Mountains loom over the high-desert urban landscape of El Paso during a period of significant mid-century expansion. This 1950s survey, updated with 1960s aerial data, documents the sprawling footprint of the Fort Bliss Military Reservation and Biggs Air Force Base, which dominate the northeastern portion of the city. The map captures a complex urban borderland where the Rio Grande defines the international boundary, including the Chamizal Convention Boundary and Cordova Island. Densely packed residential districts are shown alongside historic religious and educational institutions such as St Anthony Seminary, Loretto College, and Cathedral High Sch. Regional connectivity is anchored by the Southern Pacific and Texas and Pacific railroads, which parallel the industrial and transit corridors leading toward the El Paso International Airport.